The Rock

When you name a TV show after a location, I would assume that the place would not just be a setting, but a character as well. So far, with "Alcatraz", I did not feel like the story would involve much about the prison, but more of its inmates.

"Alcatraz" is a JJ Abrams-Bryan Burk production. I was waiting for a cross between "Fringe" and "Prison Break". Then, I realized that "Alcatraz" is actually a reminiscent of "The 4400" wherein a group of people were taken and came back without having aged a single year. For "Alcatraz", each episode will seem to focus on each inmate taken from 1963.

The show switches back to two timelines: the present day and from 1960-1963. But, please, enough with the texts telling us which timeline we're watching. Viewers aren't that stupid. Viewers who are familiar with Abrams are used to it, anyway.

I quite enjoyed the twists that were given at the end of the 1st episode. One of which is Madsen and his relationship to the other Madsen. This is when I knew that even though the show will focus on the inmates, it will still get to peel out the main characters' backgrounds. This needed to be stressed because if they will focus on the inmates, it's no less different from any criminal procedure show existing on TV right now. They can't afford being repetitive.

Second, Sam Neill's Hauser is very sinister and menacing in his personal Alcatraz for the 63s. The one twist that I did see coming was Lucy. I just figured she was too young to be involved with Hauser, so I guess she might just look young, but actually isn't. While I couldn't be sure whether Lucy is a part of the disappearance (record only shows that they lost 256 inmates and 46 guards, no staff) or she has an ability to travel time making her very valuable to Hauser, which is why he was distraught when she was shot by Cobb. And I liked Lucy. She's charming. She's actually more alluring that Madsen, which is very sad to say being that Madsen is the lead character.

(Hey, I did not like Olivia Dunham at first, but now she is the most kick-ass female character on TV. Maybe Madsen will evolve to that or be my next Kate Austen. I'll know for sure soon.)

Main questions revolving the show would be:

• Where the inmates have been?
• Who took them?
• Why are they back? And why now?

Now, I know it's not a general question, but I also wonder what was the key that Jack Sylvane took for? Primarily, I thought that the inmates would just be back for vengeance, but when Sylvane took a key from someone not connected to him, there seems to be a need to know who took them and if their takers gave them order when they released them back.

And who is inmate no. 2002?

I also can't help but notice that both attacks seems to have a personal hit on Hauser. Tiller was a friend and he was deeply affected by Lucy being in a coma.

P.S. Who knew convicts back in the 60s were quite good looking.

P.P.S. This is another blog wherein I have to praise Michael Giacchino. I know some critics hated the jail door clanging, but I liked it.